Antiprotozoal screening of 60 south African plants, and the identification of the antitrypanosomal germacranolides schkuhrin I and II (Publications)
extracts which inhibited the growth of one or more parasites with more than 95 % at 10 microg/mL, the IC50 values against all four protozoal parasites and cytotoxic IC50 values against L6 myoblasts were
Characterization of choline uptake in<em> Trypanosoma brucei</em> procyclic and bloodstream forms (Publications)
phospholipids, such as phosphatidylcholine (PC). According to published data, Trypanosoma brucei parasites are unable to take up choline from the environment but instead use lyso-phosphatidylcholine as precursor [...] analogs that have been established as anti-malarials. Together, our results show that T. brucei parasites express an uptake system for choline and that exogenous choline is used for PC synthesis
Strongyloidiasis - the most neglected of the neglected tropical diseases? (Publications)
ic light infections to chronic symptomatic strongyloidiasis. Uncontrolled multiplication of the parasite (hyperinfection) and potentially life-threatening dissemination of larvae to all internal organs [...] could cause serious problems in the community. Therefore, we need to carefully investigate this parasite in order to develop and implement effective control programmes
Substituted 2-phenyl-imidazopyridines: a new class of drug leads for human African trypanosomiasis (Publications)
a substituted 2-(3-aminophenyl)imidazopyridine. This compound showed antiparasitic activity of parasites in vitro with an EC50 of 2 nM and displayed reasonable drug-like properties when tested in a number [...] mice infected with Trypanosoma brucei when dosed orally down to 2.5 mg/kg. Given its potent anti-parasitic properties and its ease of synthesis, compound 87 represents a new lead for the development of drugs
The effect of temperature on the development of <em>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</em> (Chen 1935) in <em>Pomacea canaliculata</em> (Lamarck 1822) (Publications)
Angiostrongyliasis cantonensis, clinically presented as eosinophilic meningitis, is a snail-borne parasitic disease. We studied the effects of different temperatures on the larval development of Angiostrongylus [...] thermal constant was 262.53 degree-days. These parameters could be helpful in estimating the number of parasite generations in a year and the impact of climate change on the distribution of A. cantonensis
Optimization of purine-nitrile TbcatB inhibitors for use in vivo and evaluation of efficacy in murine models (Publications)
been relatively little progress towards identifying orally available chemotypes active against the parasite in vivo. Here, we report the lead optimization of a purine-nitrile scaffold that inhibits the essential [...] inhibitor that had potent activity against the trypanosomal protease TbcatB in vitro and cultured parasites ex vivo was optimized by rationally driven medicinal chemistry to an inhibitor that is orally available
Structure–activity relationship studies of tolfenpyrad reveal subnanomolar inhibitors of<em> Haemonchus contortus</em> development (Publications)
tolfenpyrad (TFP), unexpectedly and potently inhibits the development of L4 larval stages of the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus with an IC50 value of 0.03 microM while displaying good selectivity [...] Selected compounds from the series also showed promising activity against a panel of other different parasitic nematodes such as hookworms and whipworms.
Plasmodium vivax Transmission Model (Projects)
https://www.swisstph.ch/en/projects/project-detail/project/plasmodium-vivax-transmission-model
for Plasmodium vivax transmission to support decision-making and advocacy in countries where this parasite is dominant. This compartmental model accounts specifically for the liver stages of P. vivax malaria [...] recently been refined to include imported infections as well as treatment of blood and/or liver stages parasites. Additional ongoing development of the model include the account for delay in treatment, the inclusion
Epiisopilosine alkaloid has activity against <em>Schistosoma mansoni</em> in mice without acute toxicity (Publications)
Schistosomiasis is a disease caused by parasites of the genus Schistosoma, currently affecting more than 200 million people. Among the various species of this parasite that infect humans, S. mansoni is the [...] Pharmacological treatment is limited to the use of a single drug, praziquantel (PZQ), despite reports of parasite resistance and low efficacy. It is therefore necessary to investigate new potential schistosomicidal
Evaluation of malaria rapid diagnostic test performance and <em>pfhrp2</em> deletion in Tanzania school surveys, 2017 (Publications)
malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) in surveys conducted within primary schools to detect malaria parasites. However, mRDTs based on the detection of histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) are known to yield fa [...] Plasmodium falciparum hrp2/3 gene deletion. We evaluated diagnostic performance of an HRP2 and pan-parasite lactate dehydrogenase (HRP2/pLDH) mRDT against polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of [...] tive but PCR-positive) were screened for pfhrp2/3 deletion by real-time PCR....
